The Central Government has petitioned the Supreme Court of India seeking the dismissal of criminal cases filed against individuals involved in the recent Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) student protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The matter was brought to attention today before a bench consisting of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.
Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, representing the government, stated, “I want to move one IA, if lordships can permit (listing) tomorrow. Some urgency … It’s regarding that protest, for the purpose of FIRs to be quashed etc. Article 142 (of the Constitution), we are invoking.” CJI Kant responded, “If parties are reconciling, we have no problem.” SG Mehta then requested the matter to be listed for the following day, to which CJI Kant agreed.
The protests organized by the CJP commenced in June in response to repeated national exam paper leaks. The movement gained significant traction when climate rights activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protests and initiated a hunger strike in support. Tensions escalated as the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) employed measures such as lathi charges, teargas, and pellet guns to deter protestors during a “Sansad Chalo” march to the parliament on July 20.
The protests concluded soon after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, a key demand by the protestors. Additionally, the protestors demanded the withdrawal of criminal charges against students and activists involved in the demonstrations. This demand is now expected to be addressed in the application scheduled for hearing in the Supreme Court tomorrow.
In a related development, the Supreme Court has constituted a committee to investigate allegations of police excesses against protestors and reports of violence by protestors against the police.
